CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. – The UPEI Panthers have to do a good job cleaning up the glass to be successful this weekend.
The Panthers host the Saint Mary’s Huskies for a pair of Atlantic University Sport (AUS) women’s basketball games today and Saturday at 6 p.m. It will be the team’s first home games of 2018.
“If we let them get to the offensive boards consistently, it’s going to be a tough night for us,” UPEI bench boss Greg Gould said.
The Huskies are the second best offensive rebounding team in the eight-team conference at 13.6 per game while the Panthers are the second worsh defensive rebounding squad at 26.6. The Huskies top offensive rebounders are Shanieka Wood (3.5), Kennisha-Shanice Luberisse (3) and Katrina Murrell (2.5).
UPEI will rely on a group effort to clean up the glass, led by Carolina Del Santo, Jane McLaughlin and Karla Yepez.
Saint Mary’s (5-3) is six points up on UPEI (3-5) with both the weekend games worth two points in the conference’s unbalanced scheduled where some games are worth four points.
The Panthers split with the Huskies in Halifax on the opening weekend of the season, losing 60-52 and winning 58-46.
“They’re always tough, they defend well and they've got some kids that can shoot the ball,” Gould said.
It includes Cornwall native Jada Yeo, who starred with the Chris Annett-coached Colonel Gray Colonels squads. She will be meeting former teammates Jenna Mae Ellsworth and Victoria Barbour for the first time in university play.
“It doesn’t even really come up,” Gould said when asked about the former teammates playing against each other. “We scouted her and treat her just like everybody else. Jada is a good three-point shooter and she’s playing a lot of minutes for Saint Mary’s.”
Need to know
Points per game
Saint Mary’s
Jasmine Cain 14.4
Kennisha-Shanice Luberisse 11.3
Katrina Murrell 7.9
UPEI
Kiera Rigby 15.3
Jenna Mae Ellsworth 13.4
Reese Baxendale 12.8
Rebounds
Saint Mary’s
Shanieka Wood 8.9
Kennisha-Shanice Luberisse 7.9
Katrina Murrell 7.9
UPEI
Carolina Del Santo 10
Jane McLaughlin 5.1
Kiera Rigby 4
Assists
Saint Mary’s
Kennisha-Shanice Luberisse 3.9
UPEI
Kiera Rigby 2.6
Jenna Mae Ellsworth 2.5
Reese Baxendale 2.4
